Hello Philly, and welcome to the penultimate week before our semiquincentennial peak. Your things to do include a lot of Independence Day celebrations!
Wawa Welcome America is well underway, they have a full schedule of nearly daily events all over the city. WHYY is hosting a talk on the legacy of the Declaration of Independence, and We The People: America 250 features MS NOW’s Ali Velshi, plus Governor Josh Shapiro and others discussing where America goes next.
At Carpenters Hall, there will be a public reading of the Pennsylvania Declaration of Independence. We also have a 150th anniversary commemoration of the telephone, introduced at our Centennial right here in Philly.
The 2026 Braver Angels Convention brings its call to action to Temple University this week. And The Philadelphia Citizen welcomes Cory Doctorow to Fitler Club for a book launch.
The Delaware Waterfront is hopping with America 250 celebrations this weekend, including concerts, public art, and of course, fireworks.
There’s other things to do that are unrelated to the semiquincentennial, if you can believe it. Parks on Tap is in Manayunk, conveniently alongside Manayunk Arts Festival. The Navy Yard celebrates its annual Family Fest, and Ignite Philly returns to Johnny Brenda’s.
The Breeders are live at The Fillmore. That’s pretty cool.
And World Cup Soccer has brought thousands of international visitors who are apparently having a blast, so, enjoy!
Is that not enough? Thinking of things to do further ahead? Check out our year-round calendar about how to be a good citizen.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK IN PHILLY
Wawa Welcome America, WHYY talk, Public Reading of Pennsylvania’s Declaration of Independence, Parks on Tap, We The People: America 250, 150th Anniversary of the telephone, The Breeders, Braver Angels
CELEBRATE JULY 4 FOR LIKE, SEVERAL WEEKS. This year’s Wawa Welcome America Festival kicks off June 19 with block parties, guest speaker events, free movies and museum days, and concerts, culminating in the big July 4 concert and fireworks on the Parkway. Events are city wide, some are ticketed but many are free. The full schedule is here. Free-$25+. Locations citywide.
DISCUSS AMERICA’S IDEALS. Join WHYY and The McNeil Center for Early American Studies at Penn for Life, Liberty, and the Rocky Pursuit of Happiness on June 23 from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Participate in a discussion with historians and experts on the Declaration of Independence and its civic impact. Free. 150 N. 6th Street
HEAR PENNSYLVANIA’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Former Pennsylvania Governors Tom Wolf and Mark Schweiker will be joined by Ben Franklin (not the real one, obvs) for a Public Reading of Pennsylvania’s Declaration of Independence exactly 250 years after it was ratified at Carpenter’s Hall. June 24 at 3pm. Free. 320 Chestnut Street
DRINK BEER IN MANAYUNK. Parks on Tap comes to Pretzel Park June 24 to June 28 from 4 to 10pm (noon to 10pm Saturday and Sunday). The roving beer (and cocktail and food) garden provides a great excuse to bring your friends and your kids to happy hour in a natural green space. A portion of all proceeds benefits each park. Free admission. 4300 Silverwood Street
COME TO A BOOK LAUNCH WITH THE CITIZEN. Join us June 25 at 5:30pm in Fitler Club’s Ballroom for a conversation with Cory Doctorow, author of the new book The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI. Doctorow will be in conversation with David Williams, Philadelphia-based writer and consultant focused on how artificial intelligence is reshaping media, business, and human understanding. $5 (books available for purchase for $18). 1South 24th Street
JOIN EXPERTS, JOURNALISTS, AND GOVERNOR SHAPIRO IN REFLECTING ON OUR PAST AND FUTURE. On June 25 at 7pm, Ali Velshi, Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, PA Governor Josh Shapiro, and constitutional legal expert Sherrilyn Ifill take the stage at the Academy of Music for We The People: America 250 — A Country at a Crossroads. Get your tickets here. $79.24-$107.80. 240 S. Broad Street
COME HERE, WE NEED YOU! At the 1876 centennial here in Philly, Alexander Graham Bell unveiled the telephone, changing the way we communicate forever. Join Historian and author Shawl Lobree at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center June 25 from 8 to 10pm for Alexander Graham Bell’s Centennial Telephone 150th Anniversary Celebration. The evening includes a celebration, presentation, and Q&A. $22.11. 100 N. Horticultural Drive
INDULGE THE BRAVER ANGELS OF OUR NATURE. Braver Angels brings its annual convention to Temple University June 25 through June 28 for a renewal of our vows of courageous citizenship and at the conclusion, a roadmap for American progress. $300-$650. 1801 N. Broad Street
BE YOUR WHATEVER YOU WANT. WXPN welcomes The Breeders live at The Fillmore June 26 at 8pm with special guest Sean Solomon. Get your tickets here. $46-$138. 29 E. Allen Street
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY
America 250 Weekend on the Waterfront, Manayunk Arts Festival, Fireworks and concert on the waterfront, Family Fest at the Navy Yard, Ignite Philly 25
CELEBRATE THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL ON THE WATERFRONT. America 250 Weekend on the Philly Waterfront is June 26 through June 28, and includes all the games, rides, roller skating, eats, drinks, and hammocks you find at Summerfest and Spruce Harbor Park, plus you get public art, a flea market, special performances, and of course, the concert and fireworks Saturday night. The full schedule is here. Pay as you go. 101 South Columbus Boulevard
GO TO A LANDMARK ARTS FESTIVAL. Manayunk Arts Festival, the tri-state area’s largest outdoor, juried art festival brings around 300 local and nationally known artists and crafters plus food and drink vendors to Main Street for two days, rain or shine, June 27 from 11am to 7pm and June 28 from 11am to 5pm. Pay as you go. Main Street in Manayunk, public transit is highly advised
SEE THE FIRST FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS ON THE WATERFRONT. Celebrate Independence Day early on the Waterfront at the America 250 Concert & Fireworks at Summerfest on June 27. Festivities start at 8pm with a concert. Events are happening all weekend, so check out the schedule here. Free. 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard
BRING THE FAMILY TO THE NAVY YARD. Celebrate at the Navy Yard’s Central Green with Family Fest happening June 28 from noon to 5pm. Enjoy the best of Philly’s food trucks, inflatable games, and live music. Free. Rouse Boulevard & Intrepid Avenue
LEARN SOMETHING AT THE BAR. Come to Johnny Brenda’s on June 29 at 6pm for Ignite Philly 25! Rapid fire presentations from dynamic speakers (with slides!) who will educate, inspire and humor you with innovative stories and ideas. $5-$250+. 1201 N. Frankford Avenue
ONGOING EVENTS
Art exhibitions, live shows, outdoor activities, and more things to do, until you can’t anymore.
BE PART OF A COLLECTIVE, SUSTAINED RESPONSE. The new exhibition, How We Stay Free, from Mike Arrison, Harvey Finkle, Joe Piette, and Sunny Singh opens at TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image through June 27. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6pm. Free. 1400 N. American Street
EXPERIENCE AN ALTERNATE HISTORY ADVENTURE. Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Barrymore Award–winning sci-fi adventure Franklin’s Key returns to the Plays & Players Theatre stage through June 28 with late morning, afternoon and evening performances. Gear up for America’s 250th with an adventure starring Ben Franklin. $39-$80. 1714 Delancey Street
PRIDE. ART. PHILLY. Philly Pride Arts Festival is a month‑long celebration of LGBTQIA+ artists, stories, and community happening throughout June at locations across the city. Some events are free, some require tickets. Check the full schedule for details. Free-$55+. Various locations.
CELEBRATE BICENTENNIAL QUEER DEFIANCE. William Way LGBT Community Center presents This Is (Not) a Celebration: Queer Resistance 1976/2026, a new exhibit reframing the Bicentennial as a flashpoint for GBTQ+ activism, protest, and cultural resistance in Philadelphia and featuring the work of three local artists. On view at Huddle Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6pm through July 3. Don’t miss the opening reception June 11 from 6 to 9pm. Free. 338 Brown Street
OPEN WIDE FOR SOME SOCCER! Philadelphia hosts six matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 global soccer tournament at Lincoln Financial Field from June 14 through July 4. If you weren’t lucky enough to snatch tickets, there’s also the 39-day FIFA Fan Festival taking over Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park, featuring one million square feet of World Cup celebration and free admission. $180-$1500+. One Lincoln Financial Field Way
SEE A TONY-AWARD WINNING MUSICAL ABOUT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. Arden Theatre Company presents Dear Evan Hansen, open through July 5 with 2pm and 7pm performances. The six-time Tony Award-winning contemporary musical tells the story of a young man struggling with depression and anxiety. Expect mature themes and strong language. $37-$76. 40 N. 2nd Street
IMPACTED BY PARKINSON’S? Barnes Create & Connect is a free workshop series for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners supporting connection through art and creative expression held select Saturdays April through June from 10am to noon. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Free; registration required. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
VIEW A NEW EXHIBIT ON THE ART AND HISTORY OF AMERICAN FURNITURE. Open through July 26 at The Museum for Art in Wood, BA Harrington’s exhibition Suite Américaine brings to life the history of American furniture making through the lens of a contemporary feminist imagination. Museum hours are Wednesdays Through Sundays from 11:30am to 5pm. Free. 141 N. 3rd Street
HANG OUT AT READING TERMINAL. The Plaza at Reading Terminal Market presented by Jefferson opens with a celebration June 8 at 11:30am and stays open daily from 11am to 7pm until August 2. Reading Terminal’s expanded pedestrian-friendly space welcomes live music, local vendors, sponsored activities, and a Molly Malloy’s bar. Pay as you go. 1100 block of Filbert Street
EXPLORE BLACK AMERICAN HISTORY AND IDENTITY. The Barnes Foundation presents Freedom Dreams, a multimedia exhibition by Black artists that deconstructs race, gender, and class in American history. On view through August 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Monday, 11am to 5pm. $5-$30. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
DON’T MISS THE 200-FOOT LONG DRAGON. You’d think that’s impossible, but you will if you don’t hit the 2026 Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square, open through August 16 from 6 to 11pm nightly. In addition to the spectacular light displays, there’s food, fountain shows, and live performances. $16-$29. 200 N. 6th Street
SIP IN CENTER CITY. Philly’s “favorite happy hour’ Center City SIPS begins June 3 and continues every Wednesday through August 26. Dozens of bars and restaurants are offering exclusive discounts weekly from 5 to 7pm: $8 cocktails, $7 wine, $6 beer, and appetizers under $10. Select locations will offer 15 percent off dinner after 7pm. Pay as you go.
VIEW YOUR VISIONS OF LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Printmaking by the People: Posters for a Reimagined Declaration of Independence is an exhibition of hundreds of posters created by Philadelphians sharing their visions of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This special exhibition at the Parkway Central Library is part of Printmaking by the People, Philadelphia’s largest 2026 public art and community engagement project inspired by the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding. The exhibit is open through August 2026. Free. 1901 Vine Street
KICK OFF SUMMER ON THE WATERFRONT. Spruce Street Harbor Park and Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest are open for the season. Enjoy roller skating, outdoor boardwalk games and rides, mini-golf, and great food and drinks seven days a week through September 1 (and later for Spruce Street Harbor Park). Pay as you go. 101 and 301 S. Columbus Boulevard
SEE 1,000 WORKS OF ICONIC AMERICAN ART. Whispered about among art aficionados for years, the Middleton family’s (yes, those Middletons, who own the Phillies) massive, dating-back-150-years collection makes it public debut at two venues, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA is open Thursdays through Sundays only). A Nation of Artists is on view from September 5. $10-$30. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 128 N. Broad Street
SIT DOWN FOR SOME STORYTELLING. Historic Philadelphia proudly celebrates the 20th anniversary of Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches. Professionally trained, costumed interpreters deliver 3- to 5-minute stories filled with historical insights and facts from eight (mostly) outdoor benches all summer until September 7. Free. Various locations in Old City
SEE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF A UNIQUE EXHIBIT. The Franklin Institute’s new Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition explores theme parks through the lens of Universal’s greatest attractions like Jaws, NINTENDO WORLD, Jurassic World, and more. Open through September 7, museum hours are 9:30am to 5pm daily with added evenings Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 8pm. $23-$65. 222 N. 20th Street
NEED AN ALTERNATIVE TO SIPS? Fishtown TAPS takes place every Tuesday from 5 to 7pm through September 29, offering a select list of $5 beers, $6 wines, and $7 cocktails, along with appetizer specials to neighborhood favorites across Fishtown. Pay as you go. Various locations throughout Fishtown.
SEE A MOVIE IN THE PARK. More than 20 Philly parks will host Park Friends Movie Nights this summer and fall through October 16. Bring a blanket, snacks, and arrive before dusk. Check with your local Park Friends Group for updates and schedule changes. Free. Various locations.
VIEW SELECTIONS OF JESSIE KRIMES’S WORK. Mural Arts Philadelphia and The Fabric Workshop and Museum present Jesse Krimes: Elegy Quilts, on view through November 1. Museum hours are noon to 6pm Wednesday through Friday and noon to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Free, donations suggested. 1214 Arch Street
FIND MAGIC IN OLD CITY. The Great Philadelphia Comedy Magic Walking Tour returns for the 2026 season May 15 with tours at 1pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Attendees are treated to fun, mind-bending magic relevant to the historic and off-beat Old City locations on the tour. Philly Magic tours also partners with local charities on passes and group outings for fundraisers and free tours for deserving school classes. $32.40. Tours meet behind the Bourse near 4th and Ranstead streets
EXPLORE THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. The American Philosophical Society’s These Truths: The Declarations of Independence tells the story of America’s founding through early Declaration printings and treasured artifacts. Open through January 3, 2027. Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday 10am to 5pm. Free, donations welcome. 104 S. 5th Street
LEARN TAI CHI. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:30 to 8:30am, Franklin Square Tai Chi Group meets next to the fountain (or in the Pavilion on chilly or wet days) for the ancient practice during Tai Chi in the Square. Free. 200 N. 6th Street
TAKE A FOOD JOURNEY THROUGH SOUTHWEST PHILLY. Stuff your face with Jamaican, West African, and Southern African American cuisines while walking it off on Woodland Avenue during your Africatown Food Tour, scheduled Wednesdays through Saturdays starting at 10:30am and 1:30pm. $56. 5741 Woodland Avenue
MORE GOOD THINGS TO DO IN PHILLY
Fireworks over Philadelphia.
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